Iran News - EU guarantees Iran's right to have atomic energy

Iran News - EU guarantees Iran's right to have atomic energy: "EU guarantees Iran's right to have atomic energy
Saturday, August 06, 2005 - ©2005 IranMania.com
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Archived Picture - The European Union gave Iran guarantees Friday of its right to produce nuclear energy in a package of incentives aimed at persuading Tehran to pursue its research exclusively for peaceful purposes.
LONDON, August 6 (IranMania) - The European Union gave Iran guarantees Friday of its right to produce nuclear energy in a package of incentives aimed at persuading Tehran to pursue its research exclusively for peaceful purposes.
The package, submitted by ambassadors from Britain, France and Germany, covers nuclear issues, political and security concerns, and offers economic and technological cooperation for Iran to give up uranium enrichment work, according to AFP.
As the world waited for the Islamic Republic's reaction to the 30-page text, the watchdog UN atomic agency said it would meet on Tuesday to discuss Tehran's threat to resume the sensitive nuclear fuel cycle activities.
And France warned of a "major international crisis" if Iran does not accept the EU proposals, accompanied by a letter in which the so-called EU-3 laid out the conditions under which it could develop atomic energy.
"The letter from the three countries clearly mentions a civil nuclear programme in Iran, and provided they do respect the rules -- the so-called proliferation proof, they undertake not to proliferate -- they can go for this civilian nuclear programme," said the EU executive spokesman Stefaan de Rynck.
In Paris, French foreign ministry spokeswoman Cecile Pozzo di Borgo said the EU recognises "the inalienable right of Iran to the peaceful use of nuclear energy in conformity with the NPT and within the framework of a global accord."
A diplomat at the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agencytold AFP that the EU "respects Iran's rights under the (nuclear) Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) for the peaceful use of nuclear energy."
But the diplomat, who is following the talks, said the EU proposal rules out Iran being able to make highly enriched uranium and reprocessed plutonium, which fuel civilian nuclear power plants but can also be used to make bombs.
"A lot of the whole issue resolves around fuel and access to fuel," said a second diplomat, describing the measures as a "comprehensive package."
Iran has said it would respond soon to the offer from the EU-3, who have been negotiating hard since an interim accord was reached in Paris in November to seek guarantees that its nuclear programme will only be for civilian use.
Pozzo di Borgo said the EU would guarantee a durable supply of nuclear fuel, and Iran's access to atomic technology for civilian purposes and the nuclear energy market.
Brussels would also promote trade, investment and technology transfers, work towards an EU-Iran trade and cooperation agreement, and support Tehran's accession to the WTO (World Trade Organisation).
It also promised to develop long-term scientific and technological cooperation in various areas, as well as helping with communications, education and training, transport, tourism and seismology.
"We have provided input on the trade and cooperation agreement, we are talking about industrial and technological cooperation, energy, intellectual property and other classical subjects which are standard from this type of agreement," the European Commission's de Rynck said.
"We hope now and we expect the Iranians will study what has been put on the table and give their reaction to the global package," he said. "And of course in the meantime we expect full compliance with the Paris agreement, which includes suspension of nuclear fuel cycle activities."